Lunar eclipse, winter solstice and sub zero!!

Today feels spookily special...I crept out of bed at 6.30 am, grabbed a collection of cameras old new and other family members and headed outside (where it was -12 degrees and the frost so thick it looked like a fine covering of sparkling diamonds)...
Why? I hear you cry....

This is why! A full moon, a lunar eclipse AND all on the winter solstice!

Today is not only a full moon, which has been totally eclipsed, but also the shortest day of the year.
I love it when the tide of light begins to turn the other way and the days slowly get longer...
So here's wishing us all the best loony magic, light, warmth and health in the midst of the darkest nights XXX

A bit of this and that

The other day in the garden I spotted some birds enjoying the remaining apples on the tree next door. But on closer inspection I realised they were not the usual Blackbirds or even Mistle Thrushes. A quick search on the Internet revealed that they are Fieldfares (related to the aforementioned birds).

These scrummy little chaps came from Bettys in Northallerton where hubby and I stopped on our way for a cheeky night away.

The sun having a final fling!

We stayed at Dower House in Knaresborough...

My gorgeous new shoes finally got an outing!

We enjoyed a quiet meal and a spa session with massage.

When we got home we decorated the tree.



return to sanity...?

Because of the weather I spent most of last week indoors. I entered a different time zone I think and life felt sureal. So with great joy when hubby was home at the weekend I went out! We went shopping! Though the shopping for Yule isn't going all that well and the days are rapidly disappearing!
On Sunday my beloved did a short charity run...dressed as santa!

He has lost so much weight with his running.....he doesn't make a good santa!

Walking to the start line.....

  it wasn't just human santas that ran!


Bea the bee from Butterwick Hospice



Here he comes....15th

No idea what these guys were all about!

Countdown to Yuletide...and the snow keeps on coming!

Today was snow day number three, and almost a week since it started! It feels very sureal...

Snow day number three, so the girls and I settled down to watch Kramer versus Kramer and eat comfort food!

This is what it was doing outside!

any one fancy a picnic?

Heather and I started making an igloo!

Winter wonderland

And the snow continues.

We were back at Thorpe Perrow on Sunday, looking a bit different to last time!

Autumn and winter all rolled into one!

Blackbirds making the most of the apples!

First snow!

What is it about snow? It's cold, wet, causes absolute chaos in Britain...but I LOVE it! I still get that excited feeling in my tummy when I wake up to a hushed white world all pure and beautiful!

There are still apples on the tree next door and yesterday the grass was cut, but today snow!

and a beautiful sunset to top it all off nicely!

and a nice hot mocha...